I have to admit, Octahedron has not aged well at all. It is nowhere near being on the same level as Deloused or Bedlam at this point for me.

I was at that show and while I thought it was incredible, everyone there who had seen them before said it was a bad for show them. Plus they only played for like an hour and 15 minutes. A waste of cash for most, but the Mars Volta are one of my favorites and Ive been wanting to see them terribly for like five years so I was happy with what I got.

Ahh another Clevelander... where ya from, specifically?

Mars Volta are arguably my favourite prog band of the 2000's.

the mars volta really do make great songs and mind bending music. nothing is yet to match the last At The Drive In release. that was one for the ages.

I gotta be honest, I was not really taken too much by At The Drive In. It just didn't sound as tight to me.

And I don't think the Volta have really put anything out yet that has as much collective fire since Frances the Mute. Amputechre, The Bedlam in Goliath and Octahedron are in no way bad albums. They're all well thought out, tight and have their share of good songs, but there was a certain manic feel to Deloused in the Comatorium and Frances the Mute that I don't think they've captured throughout on their more recent releases.

Wikipedia says Pridgen has left the band...anyone confirm this? If so, that sucks ass, because he was the #1 reason Bedlam was such a great album.

there's a mention about that in the Chili Peppers thread, seems he's been replaced by John Frusciante.

^ I probably could have worded that better in the CHili peppers thread, my bad.

After the release of The Mars Volta's newest album Thomas Pridgen (drums) left and was replaced by Dave Elitch.

John Frusciante (former guitarist of the chili peppers) has played a minor role in the studio for The Mars Volta since 2002 and now I'm guessing he will take on a bigger role since he recently left the Chili Peppers.

Josh Klinghoffer will be taking John Frusciante's spot as lead guitarist for the Chili Peppers.

John and Josh used to play in a band together called Ataxia with fugazi's bassist in 2004 releasing one album.

Hope that clears things up.

That's interesting, I hadn't heard that. I'm glad John will be more involved in the Mars Volta as opposed to just the studio but I wonder how Josh will fair in RHCP. Ataxia were great, John and Josh also released an album together.